Nature in the Heart of England: A personal view of nature at the junction of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire - also known as "Banburyshire". Sometimes further afield too!

Thursday, 7 August 2014

Grimsbury Reservoir: Mediterranean feel (not just the weather)

An early morning walk around Grimsbury Reservoir was more exciting than usual, highlight being a juvenile Mediterranean gull sat amongst the black-headed gulls. I only noticed it when I stopped to photograph the gulls. Shows the value of using the camera as part of birding - it helps you focus on birds you might not have given a second glance otherwise. It is the larger gull in this photo - the middle in the group of five, with two black-headed gulls either side.

Mediterranean gull, juvenile centre/right bird.

Also of note were two each of: common sandpiper, grey heron, great crested grebe and cormorant. Also four swifts and a single yellow wagtail. A very confiding flock of at least a dozen long-tailed tits in the big willows near the entrance, with a couple of willow warblers mixed in. Two linnets and a couple of chiffchaffs just about completes the list.